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By Terfa Tilley-Gyado as culled from next
The 82nd annual Academy Awards ceremony takes place tonight at the Kodak Centre in Los Angeles. Here are my tips on some of the likely winners.
BEST PICTURE: In a novel format, 10 films will slug it out for best picture this year as opposed to the previous shortlist of five. It is perhaps the only reason why the overly allegorical District 9 and the quirky A Serious Man, tiptoed their way into this year's list. In reality, however, just like in other years, the fight is usually between a couple of films. This year it will be surprising if The Hurt Locker or Avatar don't pick up the award. I think Avatar will polarise the judges which will hand an advantage to The Hurt Locker.
Prediction: The Hurt Locker (Dir. Kathryn Bigelow).
BEST DIRECTOR: The Academy has often pulled a fast one in this category by handing the Oscar to the unofficial runner-up in the Best Picture category. This year, however, I suspect that Kathryn Bigelow will pick up both awards for The Hurt Locker, a stunning commentary on modern warfare. It eschews the preachiness and piety of recent war flicks and should ensure Ms. Bigelow's triumph over her ex-husband, James Cameron, for Avatar.
If she does, she will make history as the first woman to take home the Best Director statuette. Honourable mention goes to Lee Daniels for the gritty Precious, which was made on a shoestring budget; and Tarantino, who reminded the world of his anarchic talent in Inglourious Basterds.
BEST ACTOR: In any other year, George Clooney would be favourite for his role in Up in the Air. However, Jeff Bridges has swept up all the major awards in this category thus far and the Academy is likely to fall in line.
Prediction: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart).
BEST ACTRESS: Gabourey Sidibe was streets ahead in the reckoning for her brilliant performance in the eponymous Precious. However, she is up against a couple of Hollywood heavyweights, Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep, not to mention one of its most endearing leading ladies, Sandra Bullock. It's a tough call but Bullock appears to have found favour in the preceding awards.
Prediction: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side).
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Matt Damon's nomination for Invictus is a curious one here. It is a characteristically solid performance but his contribution in the film is largely insignificant. That notwithstanding, there appears to be just one winner here. Anyone who saw Christopher Waltz' near-perfect job in Inglourious Basterds witnessed a career-defining performance.
Prediction: Christopher Waltz (Inglourious Basterds).
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: This is another shoe-in and it will be a grave injustice if Mo'Nique does not pick up the award for Precious. Her portrayal of an abusive mother is genuinely haunting and disturbing. You end up completely detesting the character, which is a testament to the levels of energy Mo'Nique brought into the role.
Prediction: Mo'Nique (Precious).
Donald was guest at an interactive session at the Congress Hall, Trade Union Centre, in Central London on Friday, March 05, 2010, where he spoke about his desire to contest for the office, if Nigerians are willing to support his candidacy. The event was hosted by Donald's friends; Wale Kalejaiye, Dr. Bayo Adekpetun and Dr.Yemi Ogunbiyi amongst others.
The former governor had formally declared his bid during the 2007 presidential election but the Obasanjo administration forced him to step aside after it ruled that the PDP’s Presidential ticket was going to the North.
It is not clear whether Donald would contest under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party that he won his state’s governship election on, but pundits expect him to launch his campaign using another platform to avoid being checkmated by PDP hawks who have already announced that the north would produce its presidential candidate for that election.
The saxophone playing Donald Duke is very popular amongst Nigerian eligible voters who want change in the country. Some pundits have likened him to United States President Barack Obama and say he can attract a new generation of voters to the polls that will give him victory in a free and fair election.
Nigeria is currently in political crisis due to a power tussle between a cabal using an obviously incapacitated President Umaru Yar’Adua as a pawn in its power game to checkmate Nigerian Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Nigerian pro-democracy activists, The Arewa Consultative Forum, some federal legislators, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and The United States government have consistently criticized the cabal for their selfish actions warning that it may derail the country’s democracy.
A low budget Mutallab has struck in canada .
A man held a Calgary school secretary at knifepoint for two hours, police have announced charges against a suspect.
Police said Friday that a Nigerian, Matthew Akani Adeniran, 25, has been charged with several offences, including forcible confinement, assault
with a weapon, uttering threats, criminal harassment and possession of
a weapon in connection to Thursday's hostage-taking at A.E. Cross
Junior High School..
No one was injured in the incident, which happened just before 2 p.m. in the school office, as students filled the main gym for a pep rally
featuring Olympic silver medallist Carolyn Darbyshire.
Contacted Friday, Adeniran's father said his son has been acting erratically for some time.
"At night he was talking to himself and mumbling," said Gabriel Adeniran. "He needs help, to be honest."
Darbyshire, a member of the Canadian women's curling team, has a son who attends the school and was about to go into the assembly when an agitated man
entered the office.
The man demanded to see the school principal — then brandished a knife when he was told the principal wasn't available.
Darbyshire raced to the gymnasium to alert school authorities, while her husband stayed back to monitor the situation.
Darbyshire and the teachers started the pep rally as planned, trying to keep the students calm until police arrived.
As the tactical team entered the school and patrol officers surrounded the building, a staff member abruptly ended the rally. After a few minutes,
officials evacuated the gym and bused the students to another nearby
school.
Meanwhile, a tactical team member had entered the office, where he saw a man holding the secretary, Bonnie Grainger, at knifepoint.
The officer began talking to the man. Police said the hostage-taker was a former student at A.E. Cross who blames the principal for a sports
injury he suffered 10 years ago.
What nobody knew in those first minutes was there was a student in the office when the hostage taking began: a 13-year-old boy who managed to
hide in an inner office.
The boy's mother called 911 after he reached her using a phone inside the office. The boy was safe, but police had no way of phoning him back
without alerting the hostage taker and putting him in danger.
After two hours, however, police negotiators convinced the man to free Grainger in exchange for a bottle of water.
Very sad news from Sudan, as another unfortunate on-field incident leads to the death of a player.
During today's Sudanese Premier League match-up between El-Merriekh and Al-Amal, Nigerian-born forward Endurance Idahor was rushed to hospital after a challenge from a fellow player left him on his back, unable to breathe.
Despite the teams' best efforts to see that the striker was given treatment as quickly as possible, the 23-year-old is said to have passed away inside the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
Players, coaching staff and the 30,000 supporters stood in disbelief as the referee whistled the end of the match.
Sources close to El-Merreikh Club revealed to Goal.comthat the player will undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Meanwhile, early medical reports state that a heart attack is the most likely cause of death.
The club released a brief announcement describing the player as "An example of a professional and committed individual and a symbol of loyalty" and added, "We will assure that justice takes place."
Endurance Idahor joined El-Merreikh from Nigerian outfits Dolphin in 2006, loaned to Al-Nasser of UAE for one season and since his return he became a key figure in the first team squad scoring over 67 goals, leading the club to their first CAF confederation cup final since 1989.
It remains to be seen whether the rest of week 3 matches taking place on Sunday will be postponed or not.
SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean couple addicted to an Internet game about raising a virtual child were arrested for neglecting their real 3-month-old daughter and letting her starve to death, news reports said.
The couple spent between four and six hours every day at Internet cafes in Suwon, a city just south of Seoul, and bottle-fed their baby only once a day, the Yonhap news agency and other South Korean media reported, citing police.
The couple found their baby dead on Sept. 24 when they returned home after playing online games at a nearby Internet cafe all night, Yonhap reported.
The 41-year-old father and his 25-year-old wife, both jobless, went into hiding at a relative's home north of Seoul after a police autopsy found the baby died because of a long period of malnutrition, the report said. Police arrested the couple on Wednesday, it said.
“I'm sorry to my daughter and hope she doesn't get sick in heaven,” the father was quoted as saying by Yonhap.
News reports said the girl was born prematurely, weighing 5 pounds (2.25 kilograms), and had spent one month in an incubator.
The couple, who met each other through an Internet chat site, was reportedly obsessed with a role-playing game called “Prius Online” in which they nurtured a virtual girl dubbed “Anima.”
Calls to the Suwon police team handling the case rang unanswered Saturday..
Related:
An Internet-game craze has swept across the nation of South Korea. Some players have died after playing computer games for days-on-end without getting out of their seats to use the bathroom, to eat or to sleep. Others have lost their jobs by continuously playing the game 'Warcraft,' instead of fulfilling the responsibilities of their jobs. Computer rooms all over South Korea are filled to capacity, 24/7. But, now innocent infants have been vicitimized by the 'virtual-game addiction.'
The Houston Chronicle reports that, "a South Korean couple addicted to an Internet game about raising a virtual child were arrested for neglecting their real 3-month-old daughter and letting her starve to death, news reports said.
Excuse me, but this is foolish. South Korean parents are playing a game about raising a 'virtual' infant, and it doesn't enter their minds that they too have a real baby who needs to be fed, bathed and properly taken care of.
Sadly, the judicial system is weak and too accomodating to criminals in South Korea. The accused parents stand a good chance of not serving any prison-time if they are convicted of killing a 'real' baby. In similar cases, some parents, who killed their children through woeful neglect, were only forced to serve one-to-three years in prison after being judged guilty for their crimes.
According to the Chronicle, "the couple spent between four and six hours a day at Internet cafes in Suwon, a city just south of Seoul, and bottle-fed their baby only once a day, the Yonhap news agency, and other South Korean media reported, citing sources."
On Sept. 24, the married couple found their baby dead, when they returned to their residence after playing the so-called 'virtual' baby game at a nearby Internet cafe all night, as disclosed by Yonhap.
The Vatican has been thrown into chaos by reports that one of the Pope's ceremonial ushers, as well as a member of the elite Vatican choir, were involved in a homosexual prostitution ring.
The allegations came to light after Italian newspapers published transcripts of phone calls recorded by police, who had been conducting an unrelated corruption investigation.
The tapes appear to record Angelo Balducci, a Gentleman of His Holiness, negotiating with Thomas Chinedu Ehiem, a 29-year-old Nigerian Vatican chorister, about men he wanted brought to him for sexual purposes. Balducci was allegedly paying 2,000 euros ($2,714) for each man he met, according to the Irish Times.
Balducci is recorded describing precise physical details of the men he wanted. The transcripts record that during five months in 2008, Ehiem procured for Balducci at least 10 contacts with, among others, "two black Cuban lads," a former male model from Naples, and a rugby player from Rome.
A report by the Italian Carabinieri on the case said: "In order to organize casual encounters of a sexual nature, he availed himself of the intercession of two individuals who, it is maintained, may form part of an organized network, especially active in [Rome], of exploiters or at least facilitators of male prostitution."
The police probe into corruption resulted in Balducci and 4 others being arrested. Allegations of prostitution were only revealed later, and have resulted in Ehiem's dismissal from the Vatican choir.
Balducci held a high position within the Vatican and carried the coffin of Pope John Paul at his 2005 funeral. He has now lost his position as a Gentleman of the Holiness. His trial for corruption is still pending.
The Catholic Church has weathered a storm of controversy in recent years over allegations of sexual abuse by its members. Whilst homosexuality is not outright condemned within the Church, it is taught that homosexual acts are "are intrinsically disordered."
Aloysius Katsina-Alu
This morning, a seven-man panel of the apex court unanimously ruled that Arthur Agwuncha Nwankwo, presidential candidate of the People's Mandate Party (PMP) and his running mate, Muhammad Abdullahi, had a valid case in challenging the election of Umaru Yar’adua in April 2007. The legal challenge, brought by way of appeal against the election of Umaru Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan, received what a senior advocate characterized as “a surprise and unusual boost from the Supreme Court.” .
The case had earlier been thrown out by the presidential election petition tribunal headed by Justice James Ogebe on September 3rd 2007 for lacking in competence.
A highly knowledgeable source told Saharareporters that the apex court’s decision to overturn Justice Ogebe’s ruling must be seen in the context of the grave power play that has paralyzed Nigeria’s governance and cast presidential leadership in a serious crisis. Loyalists to both Yar’adua and Jonathan are currently engaged in a grim brinkmanship over which faction is to exercise power – even as Yar’adua remains bedridden and has not been seen or heard from by Nigerians ten days after his purported discharge from a Saudi hospital.
Today’s judgment, which was delivered with five justices in attendance while two were absent, concluded that Mr. Nwankwo’s appeal was meritorious, ruling that it set aside the September 2007 judgment for being null and void. The Supreme Court subsequently remitted the case to the lower court to be adjudicated by a fresh panel to be constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal.
Three sources, two legal authorities and the third a top PDP politician, told Saharareporters that the case could prove tricky especially at the time when the country badly needed a way out of its present political logjam.
“I can tell you that today’s judgment represents a move by the Supreme Court leadership in conjunction with some political operatives on the Yar’adua side of the political equation to use the court to ease out Dr. Goodluck Jonathan from office by annulling the election at the reconstituted Court of Appeal,” said one of the sources.
Our informants stated that, once the election is annulled, the PDP would decide not to appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court. “Instead, the party would welcome the chance to present another set of candidates to replace Yar’adua and Jonathan – claiming that its original presidential candidate is incapacitated,” said one source. He added that the ruling party would most likely hand its ticket to Babangida, with Ibori as the vice presidential candidate. “The duo would then be positioned to steal victory in early elections that might be ordered by the Court of Appeal,” said one of our sources.
Our political sources said the apex court’s judgment is part of the ruling party’s covert designs to shut out new candidates that are likely to emerge to challenge a weakened PDP in elections scheduled for 2011.
A legal expert told Saharareporters that the apex court’s decision is also suspicious since a majority of the same court had ruled last year that Yar’adua’s election was in order – despite detailed evidence of substantial violations of the electoral act.
“I am highly disturbed by this ruling,” said a Port Harcourt-based senior advocate, adding that the verdict “smacked of political adventurism of the worst kind.”
Since January, Justice Aloysius Katsina–Alu has led the apex court. Known for his close ties to serial criminal Ibori as well as former Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa, both prominent members of the Yar’adua “kitchen cabinet,” Katsina-Alu is notorious in legal circles for his penchant for corruption and meddling in cases to derail justice.
Last week, Justice Katsina-Alu pulled one of his suspicious moves when he intervened to halt the scheduled ruling of the Court of Appeal to decide the gubernatorial election in Sokoto State. One lawyer told us that the Chief Justice’s intrusive maneuver in that case, exclusively exposed by Saharareporters, was unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian judiciary.
One of our sources said that the new Chief Justice appeared to be positioning the courts to help the Ibori faction of the PDP to reestablish control both of the party and Nigeria.
But in a short interview with us, the lead lawyer to the plaintiffs, Nnabuike Edechime, explained that his clients actually wanted the Supreme Court to annul the 2007 election by invoking Section 37 (1) of the 2006 Electoral Act. The act states: “If after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or the Resident Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election.” Mr. Edechime explained that the electoral commission should have rescheduled the 2007 election when Adebayo Adefarati, the presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, died on March 29, 2007, just before the election. He said it was proper for the courts to nullify the presidential election on account of Adefarati’s death.
Asked if he was aware that the ruling might have interesting political implications at this time, Edechime said he thought the annulment of the election would be the best way out of the political logjam besetting Nigeria at the moment.
Today’s ruling took place in the presence of James Ogebe and John Fabiyi, two justices who played a role in upholding the legitimacy of Yar’adua’s election at the lower tribunal. After Ogebe and Fabiyi handed victory to Yar’adua, they were hastily elevated to the Supreme Court.
Today’s case was presided over by Justice George Oguntade, who was absent from court. Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was also absent, wrote the ruling. Other justices on the panel are Olufunmilayo Adekeye, Mahmud Mohammed, Francis Tabai, Ikechi Ogbuagu and Muhammed Muntaka Coomasie.
Wole Olanipekun and Damina Dodo, both senior advocates of Nigeria, represented Yar’adua/Jonathan while Kanu Agabi (SAN) represented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 40 others.
Edechime, Mirabel Edozie and Uba Chukwuka represented the plaintiffs, Arthur Nwankwo and the Peoples Mandate Party.
Within the week, when the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) publicly declared that the North will occupy the Presidency till 2015, the coast was cleared for aspirants from that part of
the country to oil their political machinery for the 2011 electoral
contest.
READ the PLOT by Justice katsina Alu : http://bit.ly/cHkNau
One of those who may be the direct beneficiaries of that policy
is former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, especially
since it is almost foreclosed that President Umar Musa Yar’Adua
will not seek re-election. For the south south ticket James ohanefe Ibori is billed to take over as Vice president .
Saturday Sun gathered that in the last three months, as Yar’Adua’s health problem rocked the nation, many
forces, within the country and outside, have been shopping for his
likely replacement in 2011. Sources revealed that the choice has
been narrowed down to Babangida, a member of the PDP..
It is generally believed that the death of his wife had put a stop
to his ambition of returning to Aso Rock but a close IBB confidant
said that, the manner Nigerians sympathised with him during his
trying period has humbled him the more and if given the opportunity
he wants to reciprocate by giving Nigerians quality and good governance.
The message of appreciation he sent to Nigerians conveys his emotion
on the love Nigerians showed his family. In the message, he stated,
“my dear compatriots, you have once again stood by us at a
time and moment when my family and I are need your support, consolation
and prayers. No amount of gratitude and appreciation I could offer
to you could convey succinctly how deeply touched and grateful my
family and I are to all of you… my family is most humbled
by these kind words and expressions you conveyed to extol the virtues
of my late wife during your visits.”
Last September, three months before the death of his wife, he said
he would make consultations before taking a position on the 2011
presidential elections. He then admitted that not only his aides
and associates, but various interest groups were mounting pressure
on him to return to partisan politics.
Now that the pressure has included the US, would he take a position?
Time will tell. Some elements in the North believe that he is not
only qualified to occupy the highest political office in the country
but is also popular, having been head of state for eight years.
Also, foreign countries, which want stability in the country are
said to have equally penciled down Babangida for support, ahead
of 2011 elections.
The US connection
It was gathered that the United States has indicated interest in Babangida and has actually reached out to him on its thinking. Sources
said that the recent visit of a strong US delegation to Nigeria,
comprising Jonnie Carson, the country’s assistant secretary
of state for African Affairs and Robin Sanders, its ambassador to
Nigeria is part of the plan to draft Babangida to the 2011 race.
It was gathered that even though Babangida has not come out openly
to declare his interest for the 2011 presidential election, the
pressure on him is high. Sources said that due to the calibre of
forces urging him to join the race, he would buckle eventually.
A source maintained that the US has followed the political situation
in the country and has come to the conclusion that Nigeria needs
a president who would restore confidence and leadership. It said
that many people have been considered.
Sources said that among those considered is Brig-General Buba Marwa,
former Nigeria’s military attaché to the US and current
Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa. He was said to have
been dropped because the US group believes that it may be difficult
for the former governor of Lagos State to be accepted by other parts
of the country.
It was gathered that Babangida eventually got endorsement after
people like Mr. George Bush Sr, who was president in US when Babangida
was military president in Nigeria put in words. The Bush Snr. support,
it was gathered, informed why immediate past US president, George
W. Bush, wanted to meet with Babangida when he visited Nigeria for
the ThisDay awards.
Before the President Barrack Obama’s delegation to Babangida,
the US and European Union had lamented the uncertainty in Nigeria,
caused by the absence of President Yar’Adua. In a joint statement
signed by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, British Foreign
Secretary, David Miliband, France’s Foreign Minister, Bernard
Kouchner and European Union High Representative, Catherine Ashton,
the US and EU noted: “Nigeria is going through a period of
uncertainty because of the prolonged illness of President Musa Yar’Adua.
Nigeria’s stability and democracy carry great significance
beyond its immediate borders, given its importance as a global oil
producer and stabilising force in West Africa.”
In the quest to help Nigeria get stability, the US therefore, wants
a leader it thinks would build institutions, as President Obama
earlier suggested.
However, apart from the US, it was gathered that Nigerians, especially
power brokers in the North are also putting pressure on Babangida
to join the race for next year’s presidency.
Maryam death angle
It was gathered that the death of Babangida’s wife, Maryam, last December 27, served as a rallying point for some politicians,
who want Babangida back at the presidency. Within the period when
Maryam was buried and her 40th day fidau, paraphernalia of offices
of state governments across the country literally relocated to Minna.
At Minna even though politicians came for mourning, there were reconciliation
of political foes and realignment of political forces.
Initially, there was the belief that the death of Maryam would sound
the death knel on Babangida’s comeback hope, but the goodwill
that came with it boosted the confidence of the retired general,
it was gathered. Babangida’s confidant said that the manner
Nigerians, from all walks of life sympathised with him, during his
trying period, humbled Babangida the more and made him to hope that
an opportunity would come for him to reciprocate by giving the Nigerian
people quality and good governance. The message of appreciation
he sent to Nigerians conveyed his emotion on the love Nigerians
showed his family.
In the message, he stated: “ My dear compatriots, you have
once again stood by us at a time and moment when my family and I
need your support, consolation and prayers.”
The North’s thinking
It was gathered that the northern political elite, believing that it gambled and lost out with the Yar’Adua presidency, thinks
that with a candidate like Babangida the geopolitical zone will
bounce back to political reckoning, just as General Olusegun Obasanjo
brought back South West to political relevance at the federal level.
Sources said that the declaration that no serving or former governor
from the North will succeed Yar’Adua was part of the signal
to draft Babangida into the race. Indeed, a frontline northern critic
and retired Army Major, Abubakar Umar, had warned that the northern
governors, who are nursing the ambition of succeeding Yar’Adua
should bury such plans. According to him, none of these northern
governors is competent to rule the country. He said that some of
the governors, apart from their dismal performance, were found wanting
when the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) checked
their books.
Considering the offer
It was gathered that Babangida is considering the offer to succeed Yar’Adua. He is said to be examining the various forces angling
for his entry into the race, to ascertain if they mean well or just
want to drag him out and disgrace him. Also, he wants to be sure
that Nigerians would accept him.
Sources close to him said that one of the ways the former Head of
State wants to find out how Nigerians feel about him was for his
associates to commission a research to find out how Nigerians would
receive his entry into the presidential race. It was gathered that
this move is preparatory to him officially declaring to replace
Yar’Adua next year.
Former national treasurer of PDP, Dr. Godwin Daboh, who is among
those putting pressure on Babangida to join the 2011 race, had said
that result of research conducted in the six geopolitical zones
showed that over 70 percent of Nigerians want Babangida in the presidency
in 2011. This seems to have buoyed the confidence of the group,
which are surreptitiously revving their political structures.
With such finding, associates of Babangida have subtly started making
comments to prepare the ground. One of his former aides and ex-military
intelligence officer when Babangida was in power, Captain Sagir
Mohammed (retd), recently said that the constitution is clear on
who could be presidential candidate. According to him, “the
Nigerian people who decide who becomes the president have not, in
any way, foreclosed his possibility of becoming the president and
we have no proof that those few who want him not to contest, represent
the view of Nigerian people.”
He remarked that General Babangida holds the record as one of the
greatest leaders that have ever ruled the country, since the period
of amalgamation, adding that he has a record of achievements unsurpassed
by many Nigerian leaders before and after him. The former military
officer said Nigerians now have the unique opportunity of comparing
the Babangida regime with what the country has had after him.
Resurrecting political structures
It was gathered that Babangida has refused to disclose his political
activities for fear of being accused of contributing in heating
up the polity and destablising the Yar’Adua government. Sources
said that he wants to meet with President Yar’Adua, to ascertain
his plan for 2011 before making a public declaration on his intention.
In the meantime, it was gathered that his political associates have
started resurrecting his political structures secretly, preparatory
to his declaration.
One of them, who pleaded anonymity said: “We are now resurrecting
our structures because it is evident that going by the internal
and external pressures mounted on IBB to run for 2011 presidential
election, he would succumb. The unity and progress of this country
is very uppermost in his mind.”
His clout
Events have proved that Babangida is a force to be reckoned with in PDP and the polity. In 2006, many people picked nomination forms
for various offices because Babangida was expected to run for the
president. Some of them, especially those who wanted to be governors,
had actually paid the non-refundable N2m to pick nomination forms.
They, however, dropped their aspirations when it became clear that
Babangida was no longer interested in the presidency, following
the aspiration of Yar’Adua. Babangida had put what happened
into perspective then when he said that he pulled out because he
did not want to go into a contest with any member of the Yar’Adua
family because he saw them as his brothers. He revealed that Yar’Adua’s
father had told him not to ever do anything that would put him on
collision course with any of his children, as they grew up together.
Oshiomhole vs Anenih: The final battle
By NDUBUISI ORJI
Friday, March 5, 2010
These are intriguing times in Edo. The state has been on tenterhooks since last Monday when the House of Assembly broke into two along party lines following the removal of the Speaker, Hon Zakawanu Garuba and his deputy Levis Aigbogun on February 22.
Oshiomhole and Anenih
![Oshio-Anenih[1].gif](http://odili.net/news/source/2010/mar/5/sun/Oshio-Anenih%5B1%5D.gif)
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What was designed to be a normal sitting of the House on that day after a three weeks recess snowballed into a free for all between Action Congress(AC) and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) legislators. The crisis was unprecedented in the current Assembly where sources said members had worked harmoniously irrespective of their parties.
It would be noted that at the inauguration of the current Assembly, PDP had 16 members against AC’s eight. Consequently, PDP naturally produced the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Majority Leader. But over time, through the instrumentality of Appeal Court judgment and two bye- elections, the PDP lost four seats to the AC bringing their number at par with the PDP.
Bouyed by the equality of their members with that of the PDP and the defection of the PDP member representing Esan West Constituency Bright Omokhodion, into its fold, the AC moved to change the House leadership that fateful day. Sensing trouble, Garuba quickly adjourned the sitting sine die. After the fight in the hallowed chamber of the House, the 13 AC legislators reconvened and suspended Garuba, his Deputy and Okiye from the House and elected Hon Peter Aliu, Estako East as Speaker pro-tempore. The AC 13 were to later elect Omokhodion and its Minority Leader, Paul Ohanbamu and Philip Sahaibu (Estako West 2) as Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader respectively. This was after they had secured a court injunction to restrain Garuba and Aigbogun from parading themselves as Speaker and Deputy respectively.
But the 11 PDP legislators would have none of that. They insist that Garuba remains the Speaker. To them, the AC did not have the required two-thirds majority to change the House leadership.
Today, the state has two Speakers. Garuba, who regards his impeachment as a nullity and Hon Bright Omokhodion, who was elected by the 13 Action Congress (AC) 40 hours after the crisis started. Garuba said he had adjourned the House sine die, and that he is the only person that would reconvene the House. Consequently, he said whatever the AC legislators are doing is illegal.
However, Omokhodion has assumed control of the House, and the state government has already recognised him. For a start, he has cleared three commissioner-nominees presented to the House by the governor, and passed the controversial State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
The Assembly crisis is unprecedented. This is the first time an impeachment attempt is snowballing into a parallel leadership in the House. Since 1999 when the present political dispensation started, three Speakers had been removed. First it was Hon Thomas Okosun. Then, Friday Itulah and David Iyoha. What then is responsible for current impasse.
The controversy
The controversy on the state of affairs in the House is whether or not Garuba was validly removed or not. The PDP continues to insist that the AC legislators did not have the 16 members, which is the two-thirds majority of the House, required to effect a leadership change while the state government and the AC say the change of leadership in the House stands.
The PDP leader in the House, Hon Frank Okiye, told Daily Sun that the AC legislators never had the constitutionally prescribed two-thirds majority to effect a leadership change in the House. Besides, he said there was no petition against Garuba and his Deputy, and that the mace used by the 13 AC legislators to elect a speaker pro-tempore was borrowed from the nearby Oredo Local Government Council.
“ The House is still intact. All they are doing is scrambling for survival. What gives legitimacy is two-thirds majority. They don’t even have a petiton. Why didn’t they flash the petition. Usually before there is an impeachment, there is usually a petition, that is available to everybody. Even you, I am sure you have not seen the petition,” he stated.
The lawmaker who said the root cause of the House crisis “ is greed for power and disrespect for the rule of law” accused the Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of fanning the embers of discord in the House. Specifically, Okiye said key government officials were present in the House the day the crisis started.
“You can see the hands, the head and face of the Edo State governor. The SSG led the police team. The Chief of Staff led the thugs. EDSG vehicles were used in carrying thugs to the House that day. Edo State government was visible on that day. When you watch the clip you see the special adviser to the governor on legislative matters supervising the kangaroo sitting.
“We were told that they went to Oredo to borrow a mace. The Clerk said he was made to swear in the Speaker pro-tempore under duress,” he added. But the Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the governor, Hon Omon Ezomon, disagrees. He told Daily Sun that he is aware that the AC legislators got 16 signatures in the petition to remove Garuba. Consequently, the action stands. His words: “Having gotten two-thirds majority, their action is legitimate. 16 signatures were gotten to remove the Speaker . He has been impeached. He has been impeached. Democracy is a game of numbers”.
However, he said if the PDP caucus is not satisfied with the action of their AC counterparts , they should go to court. Ezomon, who was a deputy speaker of the House denied that the governor has a hand in the crisis. He said that the SSG, Mr Pally Iriase, was nowhere near the Assembly when the crisis erupted in the House. As for the Chief of Staff, Mr Osarodion Ogie, Ezomon said he merely went there to watch the drama like any other citizen of the state.
“ They are trying to find a scapegoat for their wahala. The SSG was not even within the vicinity. The Chief of Staff heard what was happening, and went there to see like every other person
“My advice to Zakawanu is to accept what has happened in good faith .I don’t think there is any problem. The former speaker should allow peace to reign,” the former Deputy Speaker stated.
Oshiomhole’s past battles with the Assembly
The relationship between the governor and the House has been that of cat and mouse. Not a few believe that the unfolding drama in the Assembly is a fall-out of that frosty relationship. The first friction between Oshiomhole and the House was about the legality of the actions performed by former Governor Osunbor. The governor on assumption of office had held that every action taken by his predecesor was a nullity.
This is because, in his view, since the former senator was not validly elected, his actions as governor had no force in law. In that spirit, the governor had during a visit to the Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) ordered the sack of some of the workers employed by the Osunbor administration. Exasperated by the governor’s action, the House summoned the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Iriase to appear before it to explain the rationale behind the action of the government. At the end of the day, the House succeeded in getting the government to reverse itself on the sacked ECTS workers.
There was also the controversy of the 2009 budget. But the most protracted of the face-off between the Assembly and the Governor was over the refusal of the House to screen the latter’s nominees into the SUBEB. The governor on assumption of office had sacked members of the board, who were appointed by the Osunbor administration. The House refused to clear the new nominees, on the ground that the sacked board members had gone to court to challenge their sack.
The Anenih/Oshiomhole angle
On the surface, the crisis in the House appears an ordinary face off between the PDP legislators and their counterparts in the opposition AC. But those in the know say the crisis is the final battle in the political supremacy tussle between Oshiohmole and the Chairman Nigeria Ports Authority, and PDP leader, Chief Anthony Anenih. The duo, it would be noted, have been at each other’s jugular in the last couple of months over who is the authentic political leader in the state.
Oshiomhole at the flag-off of his campaign for the governorship in early 2007 at the Urhokpota Hall in Benin City vowed to tackle head-on the problem of godfatherism. Eliminating godfatherism in the state was a polite way of saying he would retire Anenih, who has playing a dominant role in the politics of the state from politics.
In the ensuing tussle, Oshiomhole has recorded one victory after another against the former minister of works. Apart from getting PDP leaders and about seven council bosses elected on the platform of the party in the state to defect to the AC, the governor had won two Assembly re-run election against the PDP in recent times. Consequently, analysts say the move by the AC legislators to take over the leadership of the House last Monday is to finally rout out Anenih from political reckoning in the state.
Other matters
Even if the removal of Garuba stands, one issue which the PDP may not allow to lie low is the issue of the defection of Omokhodion. Already, Garuba had declared his seat vacant before the crisis started. He said he acted in accordance with section 109(g) of the constitution.
Section 109 (g) of the 1999 Constitution states that a member of an Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if “ being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected: Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or faction by one of which he was previously sponsored.”
Those in the know said the PDP is prepared to pursue the Omokhodion case to its logical conclusion.
Conclusion. Who then is the authentic Speaker ? Rt Hon Zakawanu Garuba or Hon Bright Omokhodion? Only time would tell.
IS THIS FAIR ? One Man and his cohorts in Bank PHB have disrupted the careers and livelihood of over 1000 staff and their families fired recently !
EFCC seizes Atuche's multibillion naira assets *N50bn cash, 18 firms, 15 houses, 17 bank accounts
Written by Lanre Adewole
Friday, March 5, 2010
EMPOWERED accordingly by a federal high court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized over N50 billion, 18 companies and 15 houses from the sacked Group Managing Director of Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche.
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Atuche was sacked along with heads of other nine banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the wake of the discovery of alleged fraud in the banking sector running into one trillion naira.
Seventeen bank accounts belonging to him were also frozen.
In one of the accounts domiciled with the bank, N25.95 billion cash was said to have been found.
The commission will also this morning commence the sealing off of all the houses traced to him.
Commission's spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the commencement of the exercise.
The commission had attached all the property traced to Atuche, who is standing trial for his alleged role in crippling the bank, to the Notice of Attachment placed before the trial judge, Justice A.O Ajakaye, who issued the order of temporary forfeiture on March 1, 2010.
Apart from the cash found in his bank account, Atuche also reportedly invested N1.5 billion in Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, N305,889,418 million in Arik Ltd and 500 million units of shares in Afribank Plc.
The houses traced to him are in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Surulere, VGC Lekki, Ibusa, Delta State, Asokoro, Abuja, with a sole property at 59, Avenue Close, Avenue Road, St. John's Wood, London.
Some of the companies listed as alleged fronts in siphoning depositors' funds included, Guesstrade Services; Sentron Trading; Montra and Investico; Claremount Asset Management Limited; Arabian Probity Management; Clareville Trading and Service Limited; Commerical Trading and Services Limited; Afco Associates Limited; Trenton Trade Limited and Consolidated Business Support Limited.
He was also said to have used 15 fronts, including his wife, children and relatives.
The names listed in the court order included Elizabeth Atuche; Grace Atuche; Victor Udeh; Michael Atuche; Anthony Grace; Joseph Atuche; Nkeolisakwu Atuche; Mrs. Mariam Okonmah; Patrick Atuche and Kemi Ojelabi.
Some of the frozen accounts are SA-400221000004, 2190001272, 1160000011, PNA 0010184100002 and CA 001040100000, all domiciled in Bank PHB as well as A/C Nos; 10100061705 and CA 001020102315 belonging to Elizabeth Atuche.
Some of the houses are 2b Falomo Close, Ikoyi; 21 Kingsway Road, Ikoyi (hotel known as Clonades), 41B Anifowoshe Street, V.I, 11 Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi, 2000M 2 Plots of land at Ibusa, Delta State, 46 Mamman Nasir Street, off T.Y Danjuma, Asokoro, Abuja, among others.
Three journalists working for African pay tv sports channel SuperSport were abducted by gunmen on Monday near Owerri, in eastern Nigeria, although one escaped yesterday.
The journalists, two Nigerians and one South African, were heading to the airport on their way back after producing a live Nigeria Premier League game in Enugu on Sunday..
They were ambushed and attacked by a posse of around 28 gunmen just five minutes from the Owerri airport. The three; Bowie Atama, a commentator, Alex Effiong a cameraman, and Nick Greyling, a South African technical production staff, were taken.
Effiong, however, escaped from his abductors a few hours later.
Another was shot and is receiving treatment, while unconfirmed reports say a bystander is said to have been shot and killed.
Felix Awogu, General Manager of SuperSport Nigeria, said contact had been established with the kidnappers.
"Everything is under control. Our staff are well and we are optimistic that everything will be okay."
Kidnappings for ransom started in the restive Niger Delta at the height of violent agitation for resource control.
Since the federal government's amnesty programme, kidnappings have dropped drastically in the Niger Delta, but the mantle has been taken over by criminal gangs in the largely Igbo eastern Nigeria who abduct politicians, women, children and anybody else who will fetch a handsome ransom.
Boy’s shopping spree puts spotlight on alleged corruption in Azerbaijan
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Even by the standards of a city that celebrates extravagance, it was a spectacular shopping spree: In just two weeks early last year, an 11-year-old boy from Azerbaijan became the owner of nine waterfront mansions.
The total price tag: about $44 million -- or roughly 10,000 years' worth of salary for the average citizen of Azerbaijan. But the preteen who owns a big chunk of some of Dubai's priciest real estate seems to be anything but average.
His name, according to Dubai Land Department records, is Heydar Aliyev, which just happens to be the same name as that of the son of Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev. The owner's date of birth, listed in property records, is also the same as that of the president's son
By Roland Hutchinson
LG has announced that it will shortly be selling the worlds first mass produced Full HD 3D LCD Monitor, which will feature a full HD resolution.
The new Full HD 3D LCD Monitor will feature a 23 inch LCD display, and it will be used in conjunction with shutter glasses to deliver Full HD pictures in 3D.
http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/themes/GeekyGadgets_3.5/images/PostQuote.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Mr. Davis Lee, LG Display’s Vice President and head of IT marketing department, noted “LG Display has made a major breakthrough in the display industry race to deliver the depth and dynamic nature of 3D images. LG Display will continue with efforts to keep pace with the fast growing 3D market with leading 3D technology and products in order to create new value for customers.”
There are no details as yet on when we are likely to see the LG Full HD LCD 3D monitor in the shops, or exactly how much it will cost, but we could see it sometime next year.
Super Eagles thrash DR Congo 5-2
SUPER Eagles' new coach, Lars Lagerback, got a glimpse of the capabilities of Nigerian footballers when the country hammered the Democratic Republic of Congo 5-2 in an international friendly game yesterday in Abuja.
Photo Lars Lagerback new 9ja Coach
The Congolese only arrived in Nigeria yesterday morning but did not look quite fatigued as the match started behind schedule at the Abuja National Stadium. Before the match, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), at an impressive ceremony, unveiled the new technical adviser of the Super Eagles, Lagerback, at the Media Centre of the stadium. The event was telecast live on Africa Independent Television, NFF broadcast partner.
At half-time, Lagerback, led by NFF President, Sani Lulu Abdullahi, and former coach of Nigeria, James Peters, came down from the VIP Suite to wave to the scanty crowd, as well as shake warmly the stand-in coaches, Daniel Amokachi, Fatai Amoo and Aloysius Agu.
Fast and furious Peter Utaka put Nigeria ahead early in the game before Osamudiamen Idehen increased the tally and Obinna Nsofor made it look easy with a third. Congo reduced the tally with a 42nd minute strike by forward Tresor Mputu Mabi. Mabi scored a second goal for the visitors in the second half but that was after Nsofor, silver medallist at the 2008 Olympics, who has played at three Africa Nations Cup finals, hit a second and Idehen had a shot deflected into the net by a Congolese defender.
At the unveiling ceremony, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji, himself a former coach of Nigeria, praised coach Lagerback for his thoroughness and professionalism, as shown during the interview, and urged him to work real hard to lead Nigerian football to a glorious height.
Fake SSS officer nabbed after extorting N6.4m from victim
From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A staff member in the office of the Head of Service (HoS), Anambra State, Mr. Chibuzor Cyril, has been nabbed by the State Security Service (SSS), Anambra State Command for impersonation and extortion.
PHOTO: SSS DG Gadzama
Paraded before newsmen yesterday, Chibuzor, who is in his late 30s was said to have posed as a staffer of the SSS and defrauded a businessman in the state to the tune of N6.4 million.
He was alleged to have been going about claiming to be an SSS officer and duping unsuspecting members of the public but luck ran out on him recently when the new state Director of the SSS, Mr. Ekpenyong Ita in the process of reorganisation, got a tip-off of the escapades of the fake officer.
Parading him, the state Director, Ita said Chibuzor had been collecting N31,250 weekly from the proprietor of a popular recreation centre in Awka, Be-Joy Centre and presented fake receipts he had been issuing the businessman.
He said Chibuzor had at the last count, collected a total of N6.4 million from the businessman and issued receipts for money collected. “He is a civil servant and he is working in the office of the Head of Service (HoS) of Anambra State. Since the year 2007, he has been going around business houses, impersonating the State Security Service and extorting money from them. He has also been acting as a clearing house and a go-between for kidnappers and their victims..
“In a particular incident he duped one businessman of about N6.4 million. He was collecting N31, 250 every week in the name of settling director of SSS and zonal director of SSS. As you know, there is nothing like zonal director of SSS, no nomenclature like that.
“He has been collecting money for birth experiences, death experiences, travelling money and the rest of them. He has been collecting this money since 2007 until the law caught up with him and we want to use this opportunity to inform Anambra people that our services are free,” the SSS boss said. The director further said Be-Joy proprietor was paying Chibuzor the sum of N31,250 every week to protect him from being kidnapped by hoodlums.
Ita, however, warned the public against going into business with anybody in the name of the SSS, stressing, “we do not collect money; we render services because we are here for the people. People like this use psychological intimidation to extort money from people.” Meanwhile, Chibuzor Cyril who is presently helping the SSS with its investigation confessed that he had been collecting N31,250 weekly from the owner of Be-Joy Centre Point, adding that the money collected was used to settle some personal problems.
The suspect, however, denied the allegation that he collected his victim’s Mercedes Benz car under false pretence, insisting that the businessman asked him to buy the vehicle if he could raise funds for it.
Jonathan bars ministers (AKUNYILI) from making public comments
"WHAT IS THIS ACTING PRESIDENTS PROBLEM does he not know that this script is for real and not some kind of movie where he is acting president ! Your Goodluck will soon Run out Plus Your goodwill IF You continue to play to the GALLERY !
Jonathan Was never King I am begining to think we need a David ! "
All the 42 ministers in the Federal Executive Council have been barred from making public statements, our correspondent has learnt.
Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in the movie Airport Drama
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Also, regional or group meetings of ministers, which flourished since cracks appeared in the cabinet, have been outlawed.
The order was handed out at the FEC meeting by Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday.
However, Jonathan told the ministers that if it became imperative for any of them to make a public statement, then his approval must be secured, a source in the Presidency told our correspondent.
The directive came against the background of concern expressed by governors on Tuesday in Abuja over public utterances of the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, in which she criticised the cloud of secrecy in the Presidency concerning President Umaru Yar'Adua's health.
Akunyili had in an interview granted many newspapers on Sunday claimed that a cabal existed in the corridors power.
According to her, the cabal's hold on government must be broken if the secrecy around the President's health should become a thing of the past.
Also, Jonathan frowned on regional or group meetings of ministers, which seemed to have characterised Yar'Adua's 93-day medical sojourn in Saudi Arabia .
According to Presidency sources, the ministers tended to confer along the North and South divide.
The most noticeable members of the ministerial cliques were the Minister of Special Duties, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa; Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Sayyadi Abba-Ruma; and Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu.
Before Jonathan entered the Council chambers for the FEC meeting, a Presidency source said the ministers were jittery, following an earlier information that he would dissolve the cabinet.
But the Acting President had a last-minute change of mind on the dissolution.
He reportedly told the ministers that he had suspended the idea and enjoined them to face their jobs squarely and avoid divisive tendencies.
"At the FEC meeting, the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, ordered ministers to stop making public statements.
"He also warned against regional or group meetings of ministers, which was the rule rather than the exception during President Umaru Yar'Adua's absence.
"Henceforth, ministers wishing to make any public statement must get clearance from the Acting President.
"The order was given because of comments of some ministers that were thought to be heating up the polity. Again, he told the ministers that cabinet dissolution had been put on hold.
"He seems to have gauged the political temperature and realised that such a measure now would have fractious consequences on the Presidency."
Despite Jonathan's assurance to the ministers, a cabinet source said the feeling that their days were numbered pervaded the Council chambers.
Besides Akunyili's memo to FEC on the need for Yar'Adua to comply with Section 145 of the constitution, which attracted an unusual focus on the FEC, Aondoakaa's unguarded attacks on her dragged the cabinet in the mud.
Aondoakaa has since apologised to Akunyili.
Yar’Adua can walk, talk, eat – Cousin Confirms
BUT HE CANT ADDRESS THE NATION ! .
By Lawani Mikairu with agency report
Thursday, March 4, 2010
LAGOS—CONTRARY to speculations that President Umaru Yar’Adua is in coma and on a life support machine, the first cousin, Mr. Zubaru Ali, has disclosed that the President can walk, talk, eat and was even asking after family members.
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In an interview with cable network, Al Jazeera, Zubaru Ali said he was given permission to meet with the ailing President because he is his first cousin and family spokesperson.
He said the President’s health was improving and that he was able to recognize individuals contrary to speculations. Zubaru Ali added that Yar’Adua has been expressing thanks to family members for their prayers and support.
It will be recalled that President Umaru Yar’Adua, has been back in the country since penultimate Wednesday, after spending more than three months receiving medical treatment at a Saudi Arabian hospital.
He has, however, not been seen or heard in public since his return on February 24, fueling speculation that he was incapable of carrying out his job. Yar’Adua’s silence has led many newspapers to continue to report that he was on a life support machine or in a coma.
There are also speculations that the president’s aides and first family are holding him hostage in the presidential villa until they can figure out how to retain influence and power in the event of his death.
According to Al Jazeera’s Yvonne Ndege, who had gone to Katsina State, Yar’Adua home state, she was able to track down one of the few members of Yar’Adua’s family to discuss the state of the president’s health.
State of health
Yar’Adua left the country on November 23 to receive treatment for pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart that can restrict normal beating.
He is also known to suffer from a chronic kidney condition and has long been criticized for not being able to work more than five or six hours a day.
Aside from the near constitutional crisis, Yar’Adua’s long absence had prompted street protests by thousands across the country, demanding his resignation.
It also threatened to paralyse the government until the National Assembly installed Goodluck Jonathan, the vice president, as acting president on February 9.
Yar’Adua had not officially transmitted a letter of medical vacation to the National Assembly, though the parliament said it based its decision on an interview that the ailing president gave the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, last month, saying that he would return to work once his doctors gave him the go-ahead.
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE RULING US ?
From JAMES OJO and AARON OSSAI, Abuja
House of Representatives yesterday applauded the Nigerian Army for deploying troops to secure the arrival of President Umaru Yar’Adua from Saudi Arabia, even without the knowledge of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
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Defending the action of the military to denounce the confirmation of coup threat, the House noted that deployment of troops by the Brigade of Guards was a mere routine exercise.
Spokesman of House, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, denied that the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, nor any member confirmed that there was a threat to truncate democratic rule when the House met behind closed door on Tuesday.
According to him, the House recognized the commitments of the military as one of the pillars on which democracy stands and that the leadership of the Armed Forces had clearly demonstrated uncommon loyalty to the Federal Government.
“Neither the institution of the office of the speaker, or the speaker himself, or any member insinuated any fact pertaining to coup plot during the executive session. “Instead, the House commended the Armed Forces for their diligence and commitment to democracy,” he stated.
Eyiboh noted that the report of coup threat in the media was in the imagination of the writer, urging journalists to show greater restraint in reporting the challenges facing the nation.
His counterparts in the Committee on Defence, Hon. Oluwole Oke, remarked that the current leadership of the Armed Forces deserve praises for remaining steadfast in the face of provocation.
According to him, the deployment of troops by the Brigade of Guards was purely routine, which can be done without the approval of the acting president. Likewise, Hon. Umar Bature, chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs said it was not fair for anybody to allude that the House discussed the issue of coup threat at the closed door meeting.
As a retired army officer, he said the Brigade of Guards is mandated to protect the office of the president and commander-in-chief, hence there was nothing wrong in deploying troops to secure the arrival of President Yar’Adua from Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the office of the Speaker Dimeji Bankole has denied a report in a national daily that he confirmed the threat of coup on Tuesday. Special Adviser to the Speaker on Communications, Kayode Odunaro, said the report was not attributed to Dimeji Bankole, or any named member of the House..
According to him, the issues discussed in an executive (closed door) session of the House was based on the utterances of Professor Dora Akunyili, minister of Information and a motion relating to the deployment of troops for the arrival of President Umaru Yar’Adua from Saudi Arabia.
“We state with all emphasis that at no point in the session did the speaker confirm a ‘coup threat’ or plot as speculatively reported in the lead story and we challenge the reporter to provide proof or name any member or members that confirmed a coup threat.
